ONE of the best footballers to ever grace the field, Mesut Ozil, has announced his retirement from football after 17 years of gracious contribution to the beautiful game of football.
The German international, who would be remembered more for his performance at Real Madrid and Arsenal, played his final game on February 2, when he was substituted at half-time during Istanbul Basaksehir's 1-0 defeat at Kayserispor in the Turkish Super League.
Announcing his retirement, the 34-year-old player wrote, “After thoughtful consideration, I’m announcing my immediate retirement from professional football.
"I’ve had the privilege to be a professional football player for almost 17 years now and I feel incredibly thankful for the opportunity.
"But in recent weeks and months, having also suffered some injuries, it’s become more and more clear that it’s time to leave the big stage of football.
"It has been an amazing journey filled with unforgettable moments and emotions. I want to thank my clubs - Schalke, Werder Bremen, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Fenerbahce and Basaksehir - and the coaches who supported me, plus teammates who have become friends.
“Special thanks must go to my family members and my closest friends. They have been a part of my journey from day one and have given me so much love and support, through the good times and the bad.
"Thank you to all my fans who have shown me so much love no matter the circumstances and no matter which club I was representing.
"Now, I’m looking forward to everything that is in front of me with my beautiful wife, Amine, and my two beautiful daughters, Eda and Ela - but you can be sure that you will hear from me from time to time on my social media channels."
Mesut Ozil played 254 times for Arsenal and won four FA Cups with the Gunners, while he also made 159 appearances for Real Madrid, winning La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
He also won 92 caps for Germany, scoring 23 goals and lifting the World Cup in 2014.
